Hi Looking for Fred Taylor Hilton 375 611

[DailyGrind]

Hi, I'm looking for info on my great-Grandfather's service history. I have a scan of his discharge paper - he enlisted 23rd September and was discharged on 23 Jan 1919 at Preston.

I don't believe he served overseas as he was deaf. I don't know which battalion he was in. I know he met his wife through a friendship he made with my GGGrandfather John Lord who was also in the Manchester regiment, but probably too old to serve overseas. Any light that could be shed on either individual would be appreciated.

I'm not able to check local archives etc as I am in Australia.

Regards DailyGrind

[Tim Bell]

Hi Daily,
There's quite a few possible Fred Hiltons and the number certainly appears to be the Manchester Regt.  Do you have date/place of birth or residence prior to enlistment.  We may then narrow it down.  It looks like their could be a service record on line.

Tim

[DailyGrind]

Hi Tim, that was quick!

He was born on 16 Oct 1892 in Oldham.

in 1911 he was living at 66 Spring St Oldham but on his marriage cert from 1917, he was living at 78 Greenwood St, Oldham.

I suspect he would have been in a service battalion due to his hearing impairment.

regards

Mark

[Tim Bell]

There's an extensive Service Record for a Fred Hilton of Ryton born @ 1893.  He had a pension due to a Gun Shot Wound.  He was discahrged a month after the date you mention.  Could be your Fred. 
If you don't have an Ancestry Account, I can provide more details tonight - unless someone else steps in.  Ideally PM me your email address.

Better do some work now...

Oh yea.  Welcome to the Forum.
Tim

[DailyGrind]

Thanks Tim,

I do have an ancestry account and have searched there - the Fred Hilton of Royton (1893) isn't him - he has his father as next of kin, and it's not my GG's father. The de-mob paper lists "nil" entitlement to medals, so if he'd been in action and shot, he would have got something, even a campaign medal. The service number isn't written clearly - it looks like 375 611 but it could have been 375 011.

Thanks

[Tim Bell]

I've been able to spot nothing extra from Medal Cards, Pension, Service, National Roll...  Stumped.

http://www.themanchesters.org/re-numbering.htm indicates Fred probably enlisted in the 1st/10th Oldham Territorial Battalion - which makes sense with his address.

[mack]

hiya DG.
demobbed certs dont usually give medal entitlement,your grandfather wouldnt have been kept in the army for the whole war if he was deaf,he may have suffered that later on

mack

[DailyGrind]

Hi Mack,

It's a mystery! He was definitely hearing impaired as a child - he's listed as deaf in an earlier census record. He was hearing impaired as a result of a playground accident where he got his head stuck in some metal bars. He may well have heard well enough to serve though and he certainly saw out the whole war. I do have a scan of an old Manchester regt group photo, but I doubt that would shed any light. One of many men who did his duty...